For pictures of past net picnics click on the ARCHIVE tab above

Bob Perry, K6GDI

        SK 2/14/19

Annual Picnic Held in Kingsburg on May 3, 2025!

A Visit to MFJ Enterprises

DX Pedition to Georgia??

Some of you might recall seeing a mini-HF transceiver called the (tr)uSDX by DLZMAN/PE1NNZ that Myron WA6BLB brought to the picnic for show and tell. It's an amazing five band unit capable of SSB and CW on 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80 meters purchased on Amazon for $138. (PS I do not receive any commissions for sharing this information)!  Larry AD6W purchased one to enjoy some QRP CW operating in the state of Georgia while visiting his daughter and family. Here is a picture and message he sent:


Hi Myron,
We’ve been in Georgia since the SJN picnic and I’ve been using the same tr-usdx rig you showed me, have been working into Europe with it on CW. Powered by a dewalt tool battery, dipole up in the trees at my daughter and son-in-law’s place.


​Using a 20 meter dipole I built at home, hung it up in our backyard oak tree and tuned it 1:1 using my fancy graphical antenna analyzer before we brought it over here. Tune is still good here hung in a Georgia pecan tree. Running on 12v so output must be pretty good. The equipment was ordered on Amazon ahead of our trip and delivered in Georgia, so I saw it for the first time here.

Had quite a bit of trouble with the Chinese cw paddle, it was full of metal chips from the manufacturing process that caused all kinds of spurious dits and dahs, had to bang it on the desk a few times to get it cleaned out somewhat and working. Cute little thing though. Stuck it vertically on the front of the metal desk so the chips can continue falling out as I use it.


Now my biggest problem is mosquitoes which are terrible here with rain every other day. Have to keep the door open on the garden shed I’m set up in to let in enough light to operate, and the bugs fly in. Looking forward to good old San Joaquin Valley hot and dry.

Tell the Net hello from Larry & Shirley.

73, Larry AD6W.



 Harry L. "Bud" Odgers, WA6OVE

Alan Bowker, WA6DNR

SK 03/08/24

All roads seemed to lead to Kingsburg this year on Saturday, May 3rd. The area all around Memorial Park was lined with vehicles. Joining the members and friends who were there to attend our picnic, were hundreds more who were there for the Valley Track and Field Championships Meet for middle schools. 


After finding parking places, our group enjoyed another year of great fellowship and food. Larry Esau AD6W again secured the reservation of the arbor at Memorial Park. Larry (Shirley) and KI6SK Mel Manley (Christine) purchased and organized the barbequed lunch of hamburgers, hotdogs and all the necessary condiments and the many choices of ice cream and toppings. Myron WA6BLB supplied all the cold drinks. Many others provided delicious salads, chips, sides and desserts. An annual special treat was Bob's (SK K6GDI) wife's carrot cake supplied in their memory courtesy of Bob, K6RMW (Thank you Karen!) 


This annual event provides an opportunity to get together and "eyeball" the voices we hear Monday through Saturday on 3918 kilohertz. 

Alan J. Vicenti, N6QOG

           SK 4/16/20

Carl Evans, K6OHI

​       SK 05/06/22

Jack Green, KK6LK

​       SK 12/27/21

Joe Mizutani, WB6KCE

      SK 2/8/19

    Roland H. Ron

  Dinsmoor,N6JQL

           SK 3/5/20

William "Bill" Chu, K6CHU
              SK 5/23/24

Here are a few pictures so far. Thanks to Rich AD6S, Larry AD6W and Myron WA6BLB for these pictures. If you have other pictures to submit, please send to myron@sheklian.com.


Edith L. "Salley" Nikkel, WB6FOA

   Roger Corum, WD6CNV

                SK 2/3/19

San Joaquin Net meets Monday-Saturday on 3918 khz, at 6 PM Pacific Time

​​Robert "Bob" Kieffer, WG6Q

                 SK 10/5/21 ​


              
                                                                           



                                                                      San Joaquin Net History


                                                        The San Joaquin Net was formed

                                                        April 28, 1959 by K6EJT Bill with a group of amateur                                                                radio operators that included:
                                                        Al K6RPL, Roger K6HEZ, Alex W6BWM, Fred WA6AFW,                                                              Joe W6YQK, Jim K6ZFM, Floyd W6MJS, Verne K6EBO,                                                                John W6QRB, Sam K6OBG, Charlie K6SWW and Mike                                                                WA6OLG.
They met on 3.915 Kc every night but Sundays and holidays.
Members gave a weather report from their area.
The net increased in members, and changed the name to The San
Joaquin Net.  The net has grown to a membership of over seventy
members with QTH's throughout California.



                                                                                  The history of the San Joaquin Net was
                                            Compiled by Edith L. "Salley"  Nikkel  WB6FOA  of Pleasant Hill and copied
                                                                          by Harry L.  "Bud" Odgers WA6OVE of El Portal
                                                                                                         April, 1991

Remembering Our Silent Keys 

​Celebrating 65 years of service!

Ralph W. Matthews , NA6D​​

​                SK 5/14/21

​

George Stevans, K6SNA

           SK 8/6/19

Net Manager:                       Bill Mercer WB6FEH

Net Manager Emeritus:     Jim Wintemute AA6F

Net Secretary:                      Ken Martzen W6WMD

Assistant Net Secretary:   Jeff Lillard  AA7RH

​Web Master:                         Myron Sheklian WA6BLB

Myron (WA6BLB) and Debbie (N6IBH) went on a vacation to visit their son Christopher (KF6FGJ) in Starkville, Mississippi in late February. Some of you may know or remember Starkville is home to MFJ Enterprises, Ameritron, Hygain, Cushcraft, etc. Although they have quit new manufacturing, fourteen employees still work at the plant shipping out remaining products, parts and doing repairs. We decided to pay a random visit there which is a couple of miles away from the Mississippi State University campus where Christopher works as a university professor. We were greeted by a friendly bunch of current employees. One took us on a private tour of MFJ and another guided us through the antenna building. Below are just a few pictures from that trip.